Liam Cox

Liam Cox leads a pack of bears to a 1, 2, 3, 5 finish in the boys 1600m with the top three finishing sub 4:39. Photo by Daniel Russell

Bailey Rosenstrauch is one of the many pieces to the state championship puzzle who returns for Palmer Ridge this spring. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Jay Shuman outleans Max Gilbertson for the win in the 60 hurdles at 8.10. Photo by Daniel Russell.

Put your tray tables up and the seat backs in the full upright position. It's going to be a wild ride in Gunnison on Saturday!

Quinn McConnell returns to competition for the first time since state cross country on Saturday. Photo by Alan Versaw.

When it comes to returning distance runners, few show up in the rankings in more places than Lauren Offerman. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.

Tanner Norman brought an individual boys state title to The Classical Academy for the first time since 2004. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Mae Anderson finds her race face back after a slip exiting the creek. Photo by Jeff McCoy.

Even half way into the race, it was clear that the team battle of interest was being waged between Durango and Palmer Ridge. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Ian Meek brings the status of top returning finisher from last year to this year's 4A Boys state race. Photo by Tim Hilt.

The scene at one mile of the boys race was pretty much what everyone expected it would be. Photo by Alan Versaw.

The Pueblo Central finish straight invites runners to spread out more than is reasonable at most meets. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Tanner Norman and Chantae Steele took wins by very different models at the Pueblo Central Invitational. Photos by Alan Versaw.

Liam Cox was the #2 finisher at state for Palmer Ridge last fall, but the top guy for the Bears this fall could be anyone's guess. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Last year's Longmont 3200 Elite field comes off of turn one. Some have graduated, two are far, far away, but several will be back. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Lamar's Santana Salazar was one of a surprisingly large number of athletes who started the 2015 season beyond the state-qualifying mark for the 2014 season. Photo by Eric Versaw.

Figure Cole Pappas handles a lot of batons for Palmer Ridge again this spring. Colorado Track XC file photo by Alan Versaw.

Colorado and New Mexico mixed it up in the 3200 right from the gun. All photos by Alan Versaw.

Zoe Gilbertson's trip to Albuquerque netted her two firsts, a second, and two PRs. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Andrew Rudnicki is one candidate to be Palmer Ridge's front runner for 2015, but there are others. In fact, they really need a primary to narrow the field of choices. Photo by Alan Versaw.

Eric Hamer had already begun his break from the state pack at Little Willis. Photo by Jeff McCoy.